Orthopedic device for loosening stiffened shoulder joint

ABSTRACT

An orthopedic device for loosening a stiffened human shoulder joint utilizing a rigid bar member for extending in the plane of the torso from the stiffened shoulder to a firm surface, a support extending outwardly from the bar member in the plane of the torso and above the affected arms, a sling for providing uniform support to the humerus of the affected arm and a flexible member attached at one end to a sling and running through at least one pulley attached to the outwardly extending support and across the body to the unaffected arm for providing a direct and controlled lift to the affected arm in the stiffened joint without twist or strain on other body members.

United States Patent 1 Baker, deceased et al.

[451 July 1,1975

[76] Inventors: Fredrick A. Baker, deceased, late of Falls Church, Vas,Virginia B. Baker, executor, 5900 Boston Dr, Falls Church, Va. 22041[22] Filed: Sept. 18, 1974 21 Appl. No.: 506,995

[52] US. Cl .i 128/25 R [51] Int. Cl A6lh 1/02 [58] Field of Search128/25 R, 68, 69, 67; 272/80 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS2.832 595 4/1958 Hastings 128/25 R 3,814,084 6/1974 Gustafson 128/25 RFOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 11,782 5/1903 Austria 128/25 R PrimaryExaminerLawrence W. Trapp Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Millen, Raptes &White 5 7] ABSTRACT An orthopedic device for loosening a stiffened humanshoulder joint utilizing a rigid bar member for extending in the planeof the torso from the stiffened shoulder to a firm surface, a supportextending outwardly from the bar member in the plane of the torso andabove the affected arms, a sling for providing uniform support to thehumerus of the affected arm and a flexible member attached at one end toa sling and running through at least one pulley attached to theoutwardly extending support and across the body to the unaffected armfor providing a direct and controlled lift to the affected arm in thestiffened joint without twist or strain on other body members.

4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures RUEMTEH Jul 1 ms SEEN FIG.1

SHEET PIC-3.3

ORTHOIEDIC DEVICE FOR LOOSENING STIFFENEI) SHOULDER JOINT BACKGROUNf) OFTHE lNVl-ZN'llON This invention relates to orthopedic devices andparticularly to such devices for loosening a shoulder joint stiffened bybursitis. rheumatism. arthritis or the like.

A common affliction of the human body is a shoulder stiffened bybursitis. rheumatism or arthritis. Such a stiffened joint is extremelypainful to move but one of the required treatments for such anafliiction is the continued movement of the joint both to preventfurther stiffening and to loosen such stiffening as has already resultedfrom the disease. It is often not possible for the person to move hisown shoulder through the normal lift of the arm and some artificialdevice must be provided for lifting the arm against the stiffness of thejoint.

Such devices in the past have been extremely awkward for a person to usewithout outside assistance and have involved twisting the body in a waythat was very painful to the affected joint and often resulted in further difficulties to the patient by twisting or straining other membersof the body. Such devices have included wheels and levers requiring thepatient to extend the unaffected arm across his body and putting a.twist on the body ofthe patient which strained not only the affectedshoulder, but other members of the body.

It is therefor an object of this invention to provide ar-i orthopedicdevice which a person having a shoulder stiffened by arthritis. bursitisor the like may use with little or no outside assistance and withouttlwisting or straining the body to provide a direct lift bit the bumerusagainst the stiffness of the affected joint.

SUMMARY 'l'hese and other objects of the inventiou'ihave beenaccomplished by utilizing a bar extending from the affected shoulder toa firm surface. the bar having an opt wardly extending support in theplane of the affected shoulder and arm. and at least one pulley forreceiving a flexible member such as a rope interconnecting a sling foruniformly supporting the upper arm adjoining the affected shoulder andextending across the body of the patient to his unaffected arm wherebythe patient can effect a lift to his affected arm without movement ofthe body except by his unaffected arm.

The construction and operation ofthe device will be better understood byreference to the attached drawings in which:

HO. 1 shows the principal members of the orthopedic device of theinvention being utilized by a person with a stiffened shoulder;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the orthopedic device of Flt i.

FIG. 3 is a front view. partially cut away. of a second embodiment ofthe orthopedic device of FIG. I; and

FIG. 4 is a front view. partially cut away. ofthc orthopedic device fFIG. 3 in closed position for storage.

A bar I" which is preferably hollow and of lightweight matcrial such asplastic. extends from the al fected shoulder fthe patient between thejoint and the neck to a firm surface I I such as the ceiling. the headof the bed. or a wall. the end l3 ofthe bar 10 contact til ing theaffected shoulder is preferably padded. A support 12 extends outwardlyfrom the bar l0 in the plane ofthe torso of the patient and the affectedshoulder. At least one pulley or roller I4 is attached to theundersurface I5 ofthc support l2 for guiding a flexible member. such asa rope l6. which interconnects a sling I8 to a handle member 20 to beused by the unaffected arm of the patient. The sling I8 is preferably ofsoft but strong material and of sufficient width to support the humerusof the entire upper arm adjoining the affected joint. The length ofthesupport l2 and the positioning of the pulleys l4 should be such that adirect upward lift is made by the flexible member If) on the upper armof the patient. The length of the Ilexiblc member 16 should be such asto extend across the body of the patient and to the unaffected arm sothat the patient can make a direct pull on the rope without any twist onhis body otherwise.

The outwardly extending support l2 preferably is mounted on the bar It)by a hinge 22 so that the support can be pivoted back against the barIt) for storage. A flat pad 24 of resilient, soundabsorbcnt material.such as rubber. maybe attached to the outer end of the bar It) forinteraction with the firm surface II.

The bar It) may be hollow. as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. and the support l2may be inserted into the hollow member Ill through an opening 26 andhinged to an inner surface of the bar. The pulley or roller I4 ismounted on the undersurface ofthe support l2 and towards its outer endfor guiding the flexible member In therethrough. An additional pulley l4may be utilized toward the inner end of the support II for guiding therope It), if desired. The llexiblc member It may come down through thehollow body of the member If) and outwardly to the handle 20 to begrasped by the patient.

If the support l2 for the sling I8 is hinged or pivoted to the inside ofa hollow member If). the opening 26 should be long enough that thesupport l2 can be pivoted into the hollow inner area of the bar Ill. Thelength of the bar Ill may be made adjustable by a tclcscoping member 28litting inside the outer end of the main frame member MI. Thetelescoping member 28 may be a stud 32 affixed to one side thereof andextending through a slot 34 in the main frame member 30. The stud 32should be threaded and interact with a wing nut 36 for holding thetelescoping member 28 in properly adjusted length.

The padded member l3 may be arcuate in form for litting over theshoulder of the patient and slidably mounted in the frame member 30 byshaft 38. A quick release nut'dtl. as known in the art. provides foreasy adjustment of the position of the padded member 13 with respect tothe shoulder of the patient.

l or purposes of storage. the rope to may be pulled outwardly to bringthe handle 20 against the base ofthe frame member 30. as shown in FIG.4. the telescoping member 28 returned to its original position insidethe frame member 30 and the support l2 pivoted against an inner wallofthc frame member 30. The rope I6 and sling ll'l may then be tuckedinside the bar member l0 and a door 42 hinged to the frame member 30closed by a snap lock 44 to provide a device easily stored and handledby the person having the stiffened shoulder.

The orthopedic device of the invention can be used for either shoulderand in a horirontal or vertical position. The device also may be hingedto the head of an orthopedic bed where it can be brought into positionfor use by a patient in the bed with a minimum of effort.

From the foregoing description, one skilled in the art can easilyascertain the essential characteristics of this invention. and withoutdepartment from the spirit and scope thereof, can make various changesand modifications of the invention to adapt it to various usages andconditions.

What is claimed is:

I. An orthopedic device for exercising a stiffened shoulder joint by theunaffected arm comprising:

a rigid bar member for extending from the shoulder of the stiffenedjoint to a firm surface;

a padded member mounted on the inner end of said bar member for restingagainst said shoulder;

a support member mounted on said bar member substantially orthogonalthereto for extending outwardly in the plane of said shoulder;

pulley means on the surface of said support member for facing saidshoulder;

a sling for supporting the upper arm adjacent said stiffened shoulderjoint; and

a flexible member attached to said sling and guided through said pulley,said flexible member having sufficient length to be reciprocated throughsaid pulley by the unaffected arm without twist on the unaffected arm orother members of the body, whereby a person having a shoulder jointstiffened by disease may exercise the upper arm in the affected joint bymerely moving the unaffected arm.

2. he orthopedic device of claim 1, wherein said support member ispivotally mounted on said bar member.

3. The orthopedic device of claim 1, wherein said sling is of flexiblematerial and of sufficient width to support the upper arm uniformlyacross its length and wherein said orthopedic device also includeshandle means attached to said flexible member for being grasped by saidunaffected arm.

4'. The orthopedic device of claim 1, also including a flat resilientmember afi'ixed to the outer end of said bar member for interacting withsaid firm surfacev

1. An orthopedic device for exercising a stiffened shoulder joint by theunaffected arm comprising: a rigid bar member for extending from theshoulder of the stiffened joint to a firm surface; a padded membermounted on the inner end of said bar member for resting against saidshoulder; a support member mounted on said bar member substantiallyorthogonal thereto for extending outwardly in the plane of saidshoulder; pulley means on the surface of said support member for facingsaid shoulder; a sling for supporting the upper arm adjacent saidstiffened shoulder joint; and a flexible member attached to said slingand guided through said pulley, said flexible member having sufficientlength to be reciprocated through said pulley by the unaffected armwithout twist on the unaffected arm or other members of the body,whereby a person having a shoulder joint stiffened by disease mayexercise the upper arm in the affected joint by merely moving theunaffected arm.
 2. The orthopedic device of claim 1, wherein saidsupport member is pivotally mounted on said bar member.
 3. Theorthopedic device of claim 1, wherein said sling is of flexible materialand of sufficient width to support the upper arm uniformly across itslength and wherein said orthopedic device also includes handle meansattached to said flexible member for being grasped by said unaffectedarm.
 4. The orthopedic device of claim 1, also including a flatresilient member affixed to the outer end of said bar member forinteracting with said firm surface.